Impact

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

This past weekend was special, really, really special. Our son-in-law had been studying for his ordination into the ministry for quite some time, and this past weekend was the time for him to sit before a council of godly men and give a defence for his doctrinal statement. That was on Saturday.

It was a long, grueling four or so hours as the men asked questions and Andrew gave a biblical answer about what he believes God’s Word teaches. But it was even more than just getting the right answer – it was also stating his call from God into the Gospel ministry. He didn’t just decide one day to “be a preacher.” No, as a young lad, he had heard God’s Spirit leading him to be a preacher of the Word of God.

For years he has been praying, preparing, preaching, and looking forward to the day when it would all be official, and he would be in a place of serving God full-time. That time is now, and that place is at Boones Creek Bible Church. Our church. Wonder of wonders that only God could have done. It wasn’t planned or sought after by us – it was all the Lord’s doings and we stand amazed.

Below is a picture of Alli and Andrew on Saturday. They took a break from questions to have lunch. Many sweet ladies at church provided a fried chicken dinner (what else would you serve a group of preachers?!). We were so grateful for each who cooked or served.

While Saturday was special, Sunday eclipsed it by far. Sunday morning’s service was given to the ordaining Andrew for the ministry. My husband preached a great message about why we lay hands on a young preacher, what the church’s responsibility to Andrew is, and then he challenged Andrew about his responsibility to the ministry. I cried so many happy tears that I’m sure it looked like I never applied makeup that morning! But, oh, the joy of seeing our deacons and my husband gather around him to pray God’s blessing and power for his ministry! My heart was so full of God’s blessings!

How did Andrew get to this place? It was by the impact of a praying mother who had begged God to use her son. By the impact of his faithful pastor while he was growing up. By the impact of a youth pastor who gave him the opportunity to preach when he was a very young man, and to use the gifts that God had put in him. By the impact of a father-in-law and deacons who have encouraged him and welcomed him into their church to serve, to lead and to begin again this process of impacting others as he had experienced for 24 years.

This last photo below is Sunday night. The process of impacting that I just mentioned is evidenced again as Andrew has spent a couple of months pouring into the young teens in the youth group at BCBC. He’s been helping those that wanted to prepare a short message to preach in our Sunday night service. Sunday night was the second service in which we heard young men preach.

You could hear in them the Truths they’d learned from the passage they’d chosen to preach. You could see in them the eagerness to share what they had worked so hard to prepare. You could hear in them the desire to be used of God as they preached. Andrew has had impact in their lives!

Then while this young man was preaching, he was having trouble with his lapel microphone, so my husband went up, and with hands that have hooked up a mic many, many times, he hung it on young “C” so he could be heard. I wonder if God will call this young man to the ministry one day because of the impact of others?

There’s another side to this story that I’ll tell you tomorrow. It’s my story and the work of God when I wondered where He was. I hope you’ll come back then!

Who has had impact on your life, and how are you influencing others?

With love,

Christian Life

How to Walk in Integrity

January 19, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Years ago I remember watching a show like 20/20 where a hidden camera was following a man around. He had claimed that he had back problems and was unable to work, and had filed for workman’s comp. The bosses had doubted the validity of his word, so they had reporters secretly follow the man and video his actions in a typical day. What did they see? They video taped him doing heavy lifting, backbreaking digging and work only allotted to people who have strength in their back! He was caught and reported! No more handouts for that fella!

What if someone followed us around to see if what we say matches up with what we do? What would they see? In Psalm 26, we read that the psalmist (probably David), stated,

Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

²Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

³For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

David knew he had lived out the integrity of his heart, and he even asked God to test him and see! He knew he wasn’t perfect, but that he had walked in God’s ways with integrity (a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition).

I see two ways in this chapter that David was able to keep his unscathed character:

He guarded his close friendships. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord.
He was careful with the kind of friends with whom he made constant communion and fellowship. He knew that bad company corrupts good morals. So, he kept close friends with those who loved God.

Wise women will walk with godly people who will point her closer to the Lord. Her friends will challenge her and make her a better believer. We can’t think that if we spend consistent time with those who don’t really love the Lord, that it won’t effect us.
He guarded His time in God’s house. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Where else will we be convicted, challenged, encouraged, strengthened and led to worship but in God’s house? David knew he needed to go – he must go. If we are sluggish in our heart about attending worship services, we will be sluggish in our integrity. If we attend only half-heartedly, we are the ones that will suffer. David loved the times of worship!

When we spend time in worship and the hearing of God’s Word, we will take it with us through the week. It will guide the things we do, the places we go, and the company we keep. We need to be in God’s house. Our character needs to be sharpened in God’s house!

If the cameras were secretly filming you, what would they find this week? Are you walking with integrity and character that shows in your walk and your worship? If not, realize that your integrity could be at stake. By God’s grace may we each be able to say as David repeats at the end of the chapter –

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity

With love,

dinner in 30 minutes · Main dish. · Pasta

Hearty Dinner in 30

January 18, 2016January 18, 2016 RefreshHer2 Comments

Stroganoff

Last week we (by “we” I mean my husband!) grilled steaks outside on the coldest, windiest day of the week! We love our beef and we will cook it at all personal costs! Ha! Forget the idea of every being vegetarian!

While we had the grill fired up, I decided we’d do two steaks and have one for another night. I used the leftover meat for Beef Stroganoff and it was so delicious! I couldn’t find my old recipe, but pretty much had it in my head. Here’s how I made it:

1# Beef, cut into strips – **(Mine was cooked, so I added it in at the end to warm it up.)
4 Tbl. butter
1 Onion, sliced
1 C Fresh Mushrooms
2 – 3 Tbl Flour
1 Can Beef Consume’
1 Cup Sour Cream
Bag of Egg noodles

Boil noodles. In the meanwhile, melt butter in skillet. Add meat and cook ’til browned. Add onions and mushrooms and cook until tender. Add flour and stir to combine. Pour in consume’ slowly to combine with flour mixture.. Cook over medium heat to thicken. Remove from heat and add sour cream. Stir. Warm on stove just until hot. Pour over cooked noodles.

The picture on the top right is the mushrooms, onion and consume’. The picture below it shows the sour cream being added. The picture on the left shows the creamy mixture after the sour cream is stirred in.

This is such a great fast meal. I love it because it’s not your typical pasta and red sauce quick meal. It’s hearty and full of flavor. Add a salad and a roll and supper is on the table in half an hour!

Any other meat lovers out there?

Happy Monday!

Love from my country kitchen,

home · Uncategorized · Winter

Brighten Up Your House On A Winter Day

January 15, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

It’s easy to get a little down in the winter. When the sunshine is scarce, the temperatures are frigid, and the daylight hours are minimal, our spirits can drop quicker than the outside thermometer. We need to be aware of small things we can do that will not only be pretty, but will also help to cheer winter doldrums.

Buy fresh flowers occasionally. I got the bunch above for about $3 at Kroger in their sale bin – and they’ve lasted more than a week! I can tell you that that little bouquet has really perked the kitchen (and me) up! To have the color and the life is so encouraging!
Keep things light inside. We always have our inside door opened during the day, but when it’s freezing, we obviously have it shut. That means that the morning sunshine is shut out. So I add put lights up high above bookshelves, down low, beneath a bench, and at table level. In the morning I go around turning on the lamps so that it won’t be dark and dreary!

Burn candles for fragrance and add others for the atmosphere it will bring. Add them to your dinner table each night. It’s probably dark when you eat, so add the ambiance while you can enjoy it!
If you have a fireplace, make a fire! Nothing cozies up a space visually like a roaring fire! Pull the furniture close and enjoy the warmth and the beauty!

Lift the shades and pull back the curtains in the morning! Don’t block out the natural daylight. Even if it’s cold, the sunshine or daylight will cheer your home and your heart!

Keep winter from making your spirit’s sag by brightening up your home!

What do you do to keep your home cheery in the winter?

Stay refreshed,

Prayer · trials

A Talk With My Father

January 14, 2016January 13, 2016 RefreshHer4 Comments

In church on Sunday I got to sing one of my favorite old songs for special music – “I Will Serve Thee.” Here are the lyrics:

I will serve Thee because I love Thee

You have given life to me.

I was nothing before You found me,

You have given life to me.

Heartaches, broken pieces,

Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary.

Your touch was what I longed for,

You have given life to me.

As I sang, I thought about all the years I’ve been God’s child and how faithful He has been. I sing, not because of any special talent – I sing because my heart is so full of gratitude. What a wonderful Savior He is. As I sang I didn’t know how soon I’d need the reminder of this message, or how quickly I would see His goodness displayed to me once again.

The following morning I received news that my father was being admitted to the ICU of the hospital following a procedure. While my fleshly daughter’s heart wanted to panic, pack a suitcase, drive to KY and stand watch, the daughter of the King had a little preaching session with herself. “There’s nothing I can do there right now. My mom and sisters are there. He’s in the Lord’s hands and nothing will happen outside of His control. I can trust my earthly father in the hands of our Heavenly Father.” Then, too, the song from Sunday flooded my heart – “Heartaches, broken pieces, ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.” What comfort to be reminded that all these heartaches and broken things I was feeling was part of why I needed a Savior in the first place.

The next morning, again, I was seated in my Quiet Place, reading, praying, and taking to my Heavenly Father the burdens on my heart. While I was reading and studying about prayer, I had read Psalm 21:1,2 –

The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips.

I took my burdens to the Lord in prayer, then my phone rang. When I answered it, it was my dad! He called me from his ICU bed to say hi, tell me he was feeling better, and to check on us! The voice of my father…it comforted me. It reassured me. It made me rest.

After hanging up from our conversation, I made the connection with what had just happened. I had prayed for my dad. I had studied about prayer. Then I got to hear his voice (my dad’s). Then I got to hear His voice (God’s). It was God’s whisper to my heart that He cared. He is at work. He is answering. He was soothing my heartache and broken pieces. He didn’t have to do that for me, but He did.

Falling to my knees once again, my heart cried out His worth of my praise and of my service. “I will serve Thee because I love Thee. You have given life to me.” Yes, it’s still one of my very favorite songs.

You may not have seen such a response to your recent prayers, but it doesn’t negate God’s love or involvement for you and your situation. It’s times when His voice is silent that we must believe in faith that God is at work doing what is best for us. He still cares – even when we cannot hear His voice.

How have you seen God’s Fatherly love towards you this week?

With love,